Letter to Amy Ann Tolson

Scope and content:

Written from VMI, Lexington, Virginia. Letter regards cadet life.

Language:

English .

Other descriptive data:

V.M.I. Oct 5 1862

Dear Ma
I recd your letter yesterday morning and would have answered it yesterday (Saturday) but I had a great deal to do before going on Battalion Inspection (the first time I have been on). I recd the cloth safely, also skates, cap cover & apples for which I am very much obliged. Gen. Smith told me yesterday morning that he thought he could get cloth in 2 or 3 weeks, but he would not have enough to give the cadets overcoats, only jackets & pants. If so I will keep the fine and only use the coarse for an overcoat & if he gives me jacket & pants I will send the other back. You say in your letter you send both cap covers. I recd only one. Please send the other for this one does not suit the cap & I can easily sell it.

Pa says in his letter "as to your freezing on post at night, it seems to me the woollen clothes you carried ought to protect you." I never brought any woollen clothes with me. The only woollen thing I brought was my cloth coat & that I put in the arsenal soon after I came here & there were about 75 trunks on top of mine but I went in yesterday & got some boys to help me & got my coat out. White, one of my roommates, has bought a very good overcoat which I can wear at night. It keeps me quite comfortable. I think I can get along as far as clothes are concerned. You need not trouble yourself about sending me anything to eat as probably in a box of cakes I would get 2 or 3 to eat (you need not send my file). I will see a servt. about getting me some thing to eat or apply to change my seat which I think I can easily do.

Maj. Shipp has not returned yet, when he does I will see about my demerits. About 30 cadets are going to be shipped for having over 100 demerits in six months, 5 were sent off yesterday. Adie from Leesburg, Helm from Warrn., Grant & 2 Williams from Richmond. Patton nephew of Geo. A Smith & Gilham son of Col. Gilham are amongst the number. Old cadets say they are more stringent now than they have ever been before. As soon as a cadet gets 100 he is sent home & somebody else comes in to fill his place. There is not one in the Institute who has not over 25. Tom Henderson has about 60 & if he don't get off from some he will be shipped.

I must close as I have to go to Bible class, which recites in a few moments. With love to all I remain.
Your affectionate son
J. Henry Reid.

Subjects:

Virginia Military Institute—Cadet life—1860-1869
Correspondence

Names:

Shipp, Scott, 1839-1917
Shipp, Scott, 1839-1917

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